has been responsible

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been responsible" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that someone has done in the past that caused a certain outcome. For example: "Megan has been responsible for organizing the company picnic every year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He has been responsible for destroying Benghazi.

Independent

He has been responsible, punctual, courteous.

The New York Times

Who has been responsible for integrating policies and procedures?

Columbia University

MIT has been responsible for so much in my life.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This strain has been responsible for many high-profile outbreaks.

The Washington Post

Mentions some for whose careers she has been responsible.

The New Yorker

Since its establishment in 2006, MEND has been responsible for attacks on oil pipelines and kidnappings.

Columbia University

It has been responsible for the deaths of several young athletes.

Harvard University

fund thier own retirement ?!? Government has been responsible for financing university education since inception.

University of California, Berkeley

It has been responsible for about a fifth of global warming.

Yale University

Corrosion has been responsible for industrial maintenance cost as well as for industrial accidents.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly specify what the subject has been responsible for. Vague or ambiguous phrasing can weaken your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "has been responsible" when the subject's involvement is indirect or minor. Ensure there's a clear link between the subject's actions and the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been responsible" functions as a verb phrase indicating causation or accountability for a specific outcome or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for describing something that someone has done in the past, resulting in a particular result. Many examples from Ludwig illustrate its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been responsible" is a versatile phrase used to assign responsibility or attribute causality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. While it maintains a generally neutral tone, context is crucial to understand the nature of the responsibility being assigned. The related phrases offer alternatives to fine-tune the meaning, while the writing guidance helps avoid common errors in its application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was accountable for

Replaces "has been" with "was", shifting the tense to a specific past event while retaining the sense of accountability.

bore the responsibility for

Emphasizes the burden or duty associated with the task or outcome.

was the cause of

Emphasizes direct causation, which may be stronger than simply being responsible.

was to blame for

Directly assigns fault or culpability, often in a negative context.

was in charge of

Focuses on the aspect of managing or leading, rather than necessarily causing an outcome.

was instrumental in

Indicates a crucial role in enabling or facilitating something.

played a key role in

Highlights significant involvement without explicitly stating responsibility for the entire outcome.

contributed to

Suggests a partial influence on the outcome, rather than full responsibility.

oversaw the

Focuses on the aspect of supervising and managing a process or activity.

was at the helm of

Suggests leadership and direction, rather than simply causing an outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "has been responsible" in a sentence?

Use "has been responsible" to indicate that someone or something caused a particular outcome or had a specific duty. For example, "The new manager "has been responsible" for the team's improved performance".

What are some alternatives to "has been responsible"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was accountable for", "played a key role in", or "contributed to".

Is there a difference between "has been responsible for" and "was responsible for"?

"Has been responsible for" implies a continuing responsibility or a responsibility that occurred over a period leading up to the present, while "was responsible for" indicates a responsibility that concluded in the past.

When is it appropriate to use "was to blame for" instead of "has been responsible for"?

Use "was to blame for" when assigning fault or culpability for a negative outcome. "Has been responsible for" is more neutral and doesn't necessarily imply fault. An example would be, "The accounting error "was to blame for" the financial losses".